8
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Withdrawal from Afghanis…
Accepted
We recognise the ongoing efforts of the UK Government and of organisations including the Afghan Solidarity Coalition and the Sulha Alliance to evacuate eligible Afghans remaining in Afghanistan or in third countries. It is concerning, however, that, according to the MOD’s own estimates, several thousand eligible Afghans— whose safety is …
Read more
We recognise the ongoing efforts of the UK Government and of organisations including the Afghan Solidarity Coalition and the Sulha Alliance to evacuate eligible Afghans remaining in Afghanistan or in third countries. It is concerning, however, that, according to the MOD’s own estimates, several thousand eligible Afghans— whose safety is by definition at risk in Afghanistan—remain to be evacuated under the ARAP well over a year after the end of Operation PITTING. We recommend that the Government set out in their response to this report what action they are taking to ensure safe passage to the United Kingdom for eligible Afghans who remain to be evacuated under the ARAP. (Paragraph 54) Mental Health of Veterans
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government outlines ongoing efforts to relocate ARAP-eligible Afghans, stating over 12,200 have been relocated, fewer than 620 remain inside Afghanistan, and they are committed to finding and relocating them and their families.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
9
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Withdrawal from Afghanis…
Accepted
The withdrawal from Afghanistan and end of the UK’s twenty-year military involvement in the country has understandably had a negative impact on veterans’ mental health. This has increased demand on services provided by organisations such as Combat Stress and Help for Heroes as well as the NHS. The announcement of …
Read more
The withdrawal from Afghanistan and end of the UK’s twenty-year military involvement in the country has understandably had a negative impact on veterans’ mental health. This has increased demand on services provided by organisations such as Combat Stress and Help for Heroes as well as the NHS. The announcement of £2.7 million extra funding for veteran’s mental health through Operation Courage was welcome, as was the Government commitment to another £5 million for military charities to support veterans. We urge the Government to have an ongoing dialogue with charities working in this area to ensure that they are suitably resourced to engage in their important work. (Paragraph 59) Learning Lessons from Afghanistan
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government describes existing support for veteran mental health, including NHS services, charitable partnerships, and funding through Op COURAGE and the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, and states it remains open to further engagement and collaboration across the charity sector.
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence
10
Recommendation
Fifth Report - Withdrawal from Afghanis…
Accepted
The UK contribution to the war in Afghanistan took the lives of 457 UK armed forces personnel and injured thousands more, and cost more than £27 billion. The evacuation from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in 15,000 people being brought to the UK but left many behind. It is therefore …
Read more
The UK contribution to the war in Afghanistan took the lives of 457 UK armed forces personnel and injured thousands more, and cost more than £27 billion. The evacuation from Afghanistan in August 2021 resulted in 15,000 people being brought to the UK but left many behind. It is therefore of critical importance that the UK Government conduct an open, honest and detailed review of the UK’s involvement in the country. This review should include military operations and political decisions covering the full timeline of the UK’s involvement, from the terrorist attacks of September 11th 2001 and the invocation of Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, to the evacuation from Kabul in August 2021. This thinking would have been helpful to contribute to the update to the Integrated Review that is currently under way. (Paragraph 65) 24 Withdrawal from Afghanistan
Show less
Government response AI summary
The government states that it already conducts numerous reviews and has an active lessons process, and that the value of a further wide-ranging review is limited and doesn't coincide with the Integrated Review (Refresh).
Read full response →
Ministry of Defence